Separable fastener



Feb 16, 1954 G. A. TINNERMAN SEPARABLE FASTENER Original Filed Sept. l5, 1948 Mmmm Patented Feb. 16, 1954 F FICE 2`,668,99&e S-EPARABLE FASTENER GeorgeA Tinnerma, Cleveland,--Ohi6;eSgne1T- to.v Tinnervman Products; Inc.,LY Clevelandlv Ohio,

a, corpgoratio'n.,ofV Ollio oniainaleapplieationfl'September f 1,5;v m4n, Serial Nn.;49af11i?.novg Batent No. 2,616,142, dated Novanne; 4, 195,2;Tr Divided` and thisYe.11.1bleefi011..-

amateure-1952;

serial No.; 313,654-

invention relates-i structions; for panels, yplates?.andr` similar 'par-ts used-*inthe fabricationoi sheetfmet'al structures vsuch-'fas cabinets, oasi-rigs; and the' f like.4 This applicationf-is a division of' applicatione'rial Number 495412 led"September H15,- 1948, vvand is- The* principles ofA thev present` invention -nd particu-larY application' "structures Y' wherein' ya panel-serving as a-coverfor`closure=plate, yor the 1 'e ,v esition; vagainst accidental displacement' and disassociationifrom thersupp'orting Astructure and yet capable of vbeingreadily- 'removed to permit imust be firmly -andrigidly secured-inmountinsnectio'nandadjustmentL ofworking parts normallyi'ooncealedtherebyr; In a gas-rangef'structara-1` for example; such L a; yPanel; may assume I the form? of Amanifold cover which conceals the manifold-and associated-'burner*Valvesand'preferablyformsa portion'of theext'eriorsurface joij the ff paiingfor repla'eing a damaeednart ei'sueh epi eratin'ggmeehansm' Afprimary, object of thejinventien Ito `pre-- vide apanel meuntngand P- anelt` eolienne;-

preved' unitary Spring fastenerrembodyins eembilled securing and 'attaching means, `the securlne means .beine engageable wthjesnap ,Steden t'fiaiiel, vanother object to ibe., mounted the 2. iaryropeningsthereinlwithout the use of separate attacningimeansglas, aforesaid-and` in a manner wherebyfthe `,springacliygi` is nxedly :retained under springlrctensio'noin attachedfposition for engaging :a .cooperating v.snap .rstudfastenerg f A further object of the invention is to provide a removable mounting-for apanel or the like in whichz such resilientspring' clipldevio'es are adapted' `for readysattachmentvin'va simple and exvpe'ditiousr 'procedurevtoprovide' a reliable Vand durable stdasecuring means for. `a joint `or connectio'n :which is not subject Ito"accidental loosening ordisplacementforeunintended separation of the parts' of the joint the normal operation 1 and usefof the assemblyr An additionalobjectothe invention is to provide improvedV fastening means-'for a panel mountingor r'the like;V s'uchfas' described, comprising cooperatinglspring catch and snap stud fasteners-vvhicli are relatively simple in construction' and bothadmirably suited for economical quantity-productionin theform of inexpensive sheet lmetal stampings rthat A-may be' produced at comparatively low cost by conventional manu'- "faeturingffoperations:

manner...ofa spring catchorremoyablyzretainf irlggthe,Y same. irl-cooperatiomwith the-attaching means .securingo the fastenerf tony-e supporting panelen other support ,.WithQut-the. usen bells, screws,rivets or other separate atteehne means.,

'thereby'providing fer. Lrxportantxsavngs in. the

cest enel-applicati n efsiieliA separate.. Y, means andepeed @nldCOllOmY' in 1355 PIQIJCf 'tion methodsf'of assembly. 'y n Another object of `the invention is to *providera which ithe' improvedspringg` fastener comprises integrali/'hooker f tongue nelements i adaptedfor "positivefinterlocking,attachments =the"studzfre^- c'eiicingopeningiin thesupport-ior iny simpleauxi-"li- 4 o y 35 J tion ofrthis 'general character comprising an. 1m-

"tothe-accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration-fbutnot"ofelimitation, in which like reference charaeters designate like parts throughout, and invvhch:Y

Fig-'1Y is a ysectienalview showing a pair of panels'or other` rparts in positionv to be secured in Superposed relationby the' improved fastening means-V of vthe invention;

Fig'. 2 is asimilar view showing Vthe parts of the vassembly-in secured relation; V

Fig'.` is an eggplgdediperspective view showing the variouspartsoftheassembly of Figs. 1 and 2l;

Fig-"4 s`a sectignal'view `similar to Fig. 1 showingia pair pipane'ls vor other parts in position to'be"securedi n snperposed relation by an- 'other formY of vfastenir.,1g means in accordance Wth'the invention' Fig;` 5' is ay similarA View showing the p arts 'in securedrelation'; andy, f vFigf''isanfexploded)perspective vieu/showing theivariouspartsfofitheassembly of Figs. 4 and 5.

Referringflnow; more particularly/,to the Ydrawings lthe limprovediointandlfastening construction of '-thef present invention is "shown embodybers comprising a snap stud Ill and cooperating spring clip 20 which are attached to a pair of opposing panel or wall members A, B, to be removably secured in superposed, substantially abutting relation in an installation. The coperating fastening devices I, 20 may be employed on any pair of separable, abutting panel members or wall surfaces to serve, for example, as a door catch, or a means for removably mounting a panel such as manifold cover in a gas range or a toe plate for a cabinet, or the like, in which event a suitable number of the fasteners are provided for securing the panel or plate at spaced points along the path which it extends in mounted position.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 3 inclusive, the supporting part A is provided with a suitable opening I for each of the spring v fasteners 2i) to be employed. Such an opening may be formed in any desired configuration and in the present example is shown provided as a simple rectangular slot of suicient size to serve both as a passage for the cooperating stud I0 and as a means for attaching the spring fastener 2G over such opening.

On the associated part B to be mounted or connected to the supporting part A, a cooperating snap stud I0 is provided in the form of a projecting shank or strike element designed for snap fastening engagement with the spring clip 20. Preferably, said snap stud I is provided by a simple sheet metal stamping having a bent end forming a base II for securing the stud by welding w in projecting relation to the inner side of panel B so that the outer surface of said panel is imperforate and presents a uniform, unbroken appearance. The shank of the snap stud comprises a flat, bulbous shaped head I2, the edges of which provide a blunt leading end and adjacent outwardly diverging guide surfaces I3 merging into inwardly vrounded recesses which define rounded cam shoulders I4 on each edge of the snap stud.

The spring clip is a relatively simple article of manufacture which may be readily produced at low cost from an inexpensive section of any suitable sheet metal, preferably tempered spring steel or cold rolled steel having springlike characteristics. The spring clip may be formed from blanks of various outlines but from the standpoint of most economical quantity production is most advantageously provided from a simple generally rectangular blank which may be obtained from standard sheet metal strip stock with little loss or waste of material. The blank or strip forming the clip is provided with a central transverse slit intermediate spaced parallel slits onl opposite sides thereof to provide a pair of elongate spring arms 22 between the side or bridge portions 24 and end flanges 25. The blank as thus formed is bent into an inverted V-shape between the end flanges 25 so that said end flanges serve as base portions for the foreshortcned body of the fastener. The sides 24 of the blank thus define a pair of elbows in an inverted V-shape and the spring arms 22 extend upwardly between said elbows in more o r less face to face relation. The spring arms 22, accordingly, comprise opposing surface portions in resilient, yieldable, relation to each other and readily adapted to receive therebetween the cooperating snap stud l0 in snap fastening engagement therewith.

The spring clip 2Q is formed with the spring arms 22 thereof inclined toward each other, as. shown. and with the extremities thereof spaced a suitable distance apart and curved or rounded, as at 23, to provide substantial cam lips or shoulders adapted to permit the head of the cooperating stud to readily enter and seat therebetween on being applied thereto in one direction and to resist reverse movement in an opposite direction, but capable of being withdrawn when sufficient axial force is exerted on the stud. The spring arms 22 are supported in their inclined relation to each other by the elbows 24, and also by the base flanges 25, which ilxedly secure the entire clip to the supporting panel A and thereby maintain the spring arms in operative position at all times to receive and effectively hold the cooperating snap stud therebetween.

The spring clip 2li is provided with a particularly advantageous and highly practical type of attaching means for attaching the same easily and quickly in the stud opening I in the supporting panel A without the use of bolts, screws, rivets or other separate fastening means. Such attaching means is provided on the base flanges 25 in the form of cooperating outwardly extending hooks or tongues 28 which are stamped from said base flanges 25 to project downwardly out of the plane thereof. The hooks 2S include spaced shoulders 29 having an initial normal spacing slightly greater than the distance between opposing end walls of the stud opening I in the normal untensioned condition of the clip. The hook portions 28 otherwise are so spaced from the base portions 25 as to cooperate therewith in gripping marginal portions of said opening when applied to final position. To this end, the base portions 25 preferably are slightly corrugated to define downwardly biased panel engaging cam elements 26 adjacent outwardly flared lips 21 on the extremities thereof which facilitate the application of the clip to attached position with the marginal portions of the panel opening.

The arrangement of the clip otherwise is such that in the attachment thereof in the panel opening I, one of the hook elements 28 is first applied to gripping engagement with one end of said opening in cooperation with the cam elements 26 on the associated base 25. The flared lips 2l on the extremities of the base facilitate this initial application to a position in which the shoulder 29 of the hook is in abutting engagement with the end wall of the opening, whereupon the V-shaped body of the clip is compressed as necessary for the other hook 28 to enter the panel opening and engage the opposite end of the panel opening in a similar manner. The V- shaped body of the fastener is in slightly constricted condition in such applied position inasmuch as the shoulders 28 of the hooks have a normal spacing less than the distance between the engaged end walls of the panel opening for this purpose. Accordingly, the V-shaped body of the clip is in slightly tensioned condition in its applied nal position, and this adds to and increases the spring force of the spring arms 22 in fastening engagement with the cooperating snap stud. The clip is thereby adapted for more than the usual amount of spring tension in fastening engagement with the snap stud such that there is no looseness in the joint or connection and squeaks, rattling and other objectionable noises in the completed assembly are prevented.

The resilient spring clip 2i] and cooperating snap stud I0 are attached to the respective panel members A, B, with the flat shank of the stud disposed at right angles to the ilat faces of the springarms -221off'-theielipfso that .said fastening membersl are therebyiarrangedtbe:'moved'into and out of snap I.fastening `.engagement fby substantial'ly str-aight longitudinal ...or axial. :movementfas.indicated-bythe arrowin Fig. 1. I,During f .thislmovementfby reason of thelroundedpballshaped portion `I2 of the snapstud, the vdiverging guide surfaces .I3 onvsaid head-.cause thespring arms 22. of the clipl to `gradually .spreadapartand permit said head to :pass therebetweenand seaty shaped headof the stud. Thus,- the snapstud is adaptedlto effectivelyengage--thefspringfarms-:of

the clip in slight angular relationship, if necessary, in what may be termed a limited universal contact. Accordingly, should the stud and clip be somewhat misaligned to cause the strike head I2 to move one of the spring arms more than the other, such inaccuracy is readily compensated for by the engagement of the rounded surfaces of the snap stud in universal, close contact with the curved, rounded surfaces of the cam lips 23 on the spring arms. This arrangement together with the foreshortened base construction of the clip providing for the relatively long spring arms 22, prevents undue distortion and strain in the spring arms, and otherwise minimizes danger of fracture of the same by reason of crystallization incident to continuous wear over an extended period of use.

, To release the stud and clip from the secured position shown in Fig. 2, a substantially axial pull on the stud causes the shoulders I4 defined by the rounded undersurfaces of the ball-type head portion I2 to cam the rounded surfaces of the cam lips 23 of the spring arms to spread the same apart and thereby permit the stud to be disassociated from the clip and easily and quickly withdrawn therefrom. Thus, in the event that it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the panel B from mounted position, as for repairs or replacement of a member concealed thereby, said panel is readily removed by a suitable force thereon to move each snap stud Ill in a reverse axial direction as necessary for the rounded cam shoulders I4 on the edges thereof to cause the spring arms 22 of the spring clip to spread apart suiciently to pass the snap stud from engaged relation therewith. Thereafter, the panel B may be reinstalled in the same mounting in a repetition of the foregoing described procedure for applying the snap studs I to the associated spring clip devices 20.

Figs. 4 6 inclusive disclose another embodiment of the invention which is generally similar in construction, application and use to that described with reference to Figs. 1 3, inclusive. The fastening members in this form of the invention, likewise, are both formed as inexpensive sheet metal stampings. The snap stud 38 thus provided, is designed to be secured at any of several locations along the length thereof so that the panel or other object D may be mounted in either abutting or spaced relation to the supporting panel C. The snap stud 3&3, accordingly, is provided with a bent end defining a base 3I which is secured to the inner side of panel D by welding .we rand a' aatvshankzZf. havingdts elongitudinal edges lscalloped orf-otherwise suitably recessedfto define a series.: of rounded camfishiulders.; 34;.. The .cooperating` spring. clip, A01-comprises aan -`inverted -.Vshaped bodysportion: similar-:sto that of Figs. 1.-3inclusive inwliichzthe elongate'spring arms 42 yhavingcam lips 43:on' their extremities extend upwardly: between the:sidaforfelbovezportions 441and end flangesz45:l Fihe. end.ziiang.esf45 areprovideflwith` `inwardly extending Ihoicksizor tongues 46v struck and formed-therefromjozzpl j 'ect from they undersidev of said base. flanges.xu..The supporting 'partC- is preparedwitha'studipassage -5 1 and .holesA e lon either .side ithereoftfor receiving said .inturnedz .hooks r'dznwhiclriare fpmvided Awith. a predetermined'. spacing slightly..` less clip is .attached by insertingrone .of :the ihcokszd in a hole 6 and seating the same-inaclasping rela- Ition with .the engaged marginal portion. o ffsaid hole, whereuponthe body..ofthe.-clip is distended slightly as necessary to insert the companion hook 46 in the other hole 6 and to seat the same similarly in clasping relation with the engaged marginal portion of said other hole. The body of the clip as thus distended is tensioned in attached position to add to and increase the spring force of the spring arms 22 when the stud 30 is snapped therebetween.

With the clip 4G and stud 30 attached to their respective panel members C, D, as seen in Fig. 4, the stud is advanced in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 through the stud passage 5 in part C into engagement with the spring arms 42 whereupon the cam lips 43 thereon ratchet over the series of shoulders 34 on the stud and seat against the pair of such shoulders at the eiective point of fastening engagement to secure the panels C, D, in a completed assembly as seen in Fig. 5, for example.

The stud and clip in this form of the invention, likewise, may be readily released from secured position by suitable force providing an axial pull on the stud which causes the cam shoulders 34 on the shank thereof to ratchet Dass the cam lips 43 on the extremities of the spring arms to the point at which the stud may be disassociated from the clip and withdrawn therefrom.

The spring clip devices preferably are constructed of relatively thin sheet metal, the thickness of which is selected according to service requirements and the predetermined size of the parts secured. These fasteners are most eiective when provided of spring metal suitably spring tempered and otherwise treated to give the desired toughness and hardness, particularly in the case of devices which are put to heavy duty in installations where extreme vibratory motion takes place. A cheap but effective fastener may be provided from cold rolled metal, such as cold rolled steel, which is untempered but of a spring metal nature and capable of providing an effective and reliable fastening means adapted for a long period of satisfactory service and use.

While the invention has been described in detail with specific examples, such examples are intended as illustrations only inasmuch as it will be apparent that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A clip comprising a piece of sheet metal having an intermediate bend providing spaced body portions for receiving a stud therebetween and base flanges adjoining said spaced body portions extending outwardly in opposite directions, resilient spring arms stamped from said spaced Vbody portions, said spring arms being continuous with said spaced body portions from adjacent said base flanges and having free ends adjacent said intermediate bend, and inwardly extending hooks stamped from the material of said base flanges entirely within the periphery of said base fianges, said hooks projecting from the undersides of said base anges and extending inwardly toward each other, said clip being adapted to be attached to a part over an opening therein with said base iianges bearing on one side of said part and With said hooks extending through holes adjacent said opening and engaging the opposite side of said part in cooperation with said base flanges to retain the clip in attached position on said part, said spaced body portions being adapted to be expanded and thereby tensioned in such attached position of the clip,

whereby said free ends of said spring arms are biased toward each other for added gripping force on a stud applied between said spring arms, and said hooks are secured in said holes under force of said tensioned body portions urging said hooks inwardly toward each other in gripping engagement with marginal portions of said holes, and said base flanges are seated in firm bearing engagement with said part under force of said tensioned body portions to support the clip xedly and rigidly in attached position on said part.

GEORGE A. TINNERMAN.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,054,471 Tinnerman Sept. 15, 1936 2,151,284 Tinnerman Mar. 21, 1939 20 2,400,666 Tinnerman May 21, 1946 2,616,142 Tinnerman Nov. 4, 1952 

